Syria torture allegations
The human rights charity Amnesty International has called for urgent action on Syria after publishing a "grim catalogue" of what it alleges is state-sponsored torture.
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Zayani said he opposed the Syrian Government "massacring its people, choosing the military option and rejecting all initiatives aimed at finding a solution to the crisis." He urged the international community to "act urgently and decisively to stop the killings and massacres in Syria".
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Ex-detainees speak of their experiences of torture in Syria.
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It will come as no surprise to find the syrian authorities accused of the systematic use of torture against those it deems its enemies.
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We have given direct support to 20,000 families for food rations, medical supplies and emergency water.
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UN Arab envoy KofI Annan said he has received a response from President Bashar al-Assad on Syria proposals but questions remain, according to Reuters.
Annan also said he was seeking answers from Syria but time is of the essence and "this crisis cannot be allowed to drag on."
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Russia's Deputy Defence Minister has said that Russia will continue selling arms to Syria despite the crackdown on civilians, according to The Independent. Anatoly Antonov said:
Russia enjoys good and strong military technical co-operation with Syria, and we see no reason today to reconsider it ... Russian-Syrian military co-operation is perfectly legitimate.
He also admitted that Russia has military instructors on the ground in Syria training the Syrian army. "It's part of our contractual obligations," he said. "When we supply weapons, we have to provide training."
New report claims to catalogue Syrian abuses
A grim catalogue of torture has emerged from former detainees describing their treatment in Syria's detention centres since the predominantly peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s government began in March 2011.
Amnesty International's report reveals that all the various security forces are routinely torturing and ill-treating detainees held in the context of the protests and unrest, using methods of cruelty mostly used for decades.
The torture carried out appears to be part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population as part of Syrian government policy to crush dissent.
Amnesty International publishes on Syria
Hard-hitting Amnesty report describes 31 methods of torture in #Syria. http://t.co/EC0nQpZp #eyesonsyria
From @amnesty on Twitter: